Football Browns face possible suspension, fine and loss of draft pick - Page 5

**The Franchise** · 02-04-2015, 11:44 AM

Cleveland Browns and GM Ray Farmer facing possible suspension, fine, loss of draft pick for 'Textgate'

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/inde...medium=twitter

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns and general manager Ray Farmer are facing possible sanctions from the NFL for "Textgate," including a multigame suspension for Farmer, and a fine and loss of draft pick for the Browns, league sources told Northeast Ohio Media Group.

The investigation -- one of three "integrity of the game" probes currently underway in the NFL -- is expected to be wrapped up soon, as early this week or next week.

NEOMG reported on Jan. 6 that a Browns "high-ranking personnel member texted from the press box to the sidelines about playcalls'' during a game, which was one of the reasons former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, now with the Falcons, felt that working for the Browns had become dysfunctional for him.

Multiple league sources have told NEOMG that Farmer was the high-ranking personnel member who violated the NFL's electronic use policy by the impermissible texting. Those messages were then apparently relayed to the coaches.

The NFL investigated the improper texts, and are prepared to announce sanctions within the next couple of weeks. A resolution could come as early as this week, but probably no later than three weeks.

Farmer is facing a multigame suspension -- as many as three or four games -- and the Browns are facing the loss of a draft pick if the probe, conducted by in-house NFL executives, shows that Farmer acted improperly.

Farmer, asked by NEOMG at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., on Jan. 21 if he texted from the press level during a game, said "I can't comment on that. The league is investigating.''

A Browns spokesman reiterated Wednesday that the club has done everything the league has asked and is awaiting results of the probe.

The Browns have never denied that such texts occurred, and coach Mike Pettine revealed during a press conference on Jan. 22 that investigators had already come to Cleveland to question members of the organization.

At the Greater Cleveland Sports Award ceremony later that night, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam stressed that the club was cooperating fully.

"I know that Ray and Pett and Sashi Brown, our general counselor, are cooperating fully with the NFL, and if we did anything wrong I'm sure we'll correct it and make whatever amends,'' he said. "I know we've cooperated fully with the NFL."

"Textgate'' was the first of three scandals that have erupted over the past month that impact the integrity of the game, and the NFL is taking all three very seriously.

The second was "Deflategate,'' the controversy over the Patriots deflating footballs during their AFC Championship Game victory over the Colts. And the third was the Falcons pumping artificial crowd noise into the Georgia Dome over the past two seasons, which owner Arthur Blank admitted to on Tuesday.

The NFL is likely to wrap up all three investigations within the next three weeks.

"It's not really a fine line," Blank told The Associated Press. "I think what we've done in 2013 and 2014 was wrong. Anything that affects the competitive balance and fairness on the field, we're opposed to, as a league, as a club and as an owner. It's obviously embarrassing but beyond embarrassing it doesn't represent our culture and what we're about."

Blank told the AP that he knew enough about the investigation to own up to the allegations.

"We've gotten some information from the league but until we read the full report and until they publish their findings, we can't be totally clear. We've talked to a lot of people and we've cooperated and we'll be anxious to read the report."

During his Super Bowl press conference last week, Commissioner Roger Goodell stressed the importance of protecting the game's integrity.

"This is my job," Goodell said in response to a question about Deflate-gate. "This is my responsibility to protect the integrity of the game. I represent 32 teams. All of us want to make sure that the rules are being followed. And if we have any information where the potential is that those rules were violated, I have to pursue that. And I have to pursue that aggressively.

"So this is my job. This is the job of the league office. It is what all 32 clubs expect and I believe our partners and fans expect. We will do it vigorously and it is important for it to be thorough and fair."

The Browns' Textgate investigation comes at a difficult time for the club. Their first-round quarterback, Johnny Manziel, checked himself into a rehab facility last Wednesday for a possible dependence on alcohol; and their All-Pro receiver, Josh Gordon, was suspended for a minimum of a year.

ChiliConCarnage · 02-05-2015, 09:01 AM

I remember the Browns having great fans when I was a kid.
Even as a fan of a team that hasn't won a playoff game in 20 years.. The Browns are having a tough run over the last 15 years

**Dave Lane** · 02-05-2015, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

PAGING HOOTIE... WE NEED OUTRAGE!!!!!

And 6,000 raving, borderline psychotic posts in at least 20 different threads covering this topic

ClevelandBronco · 02-05-2015, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiliConCarnage

I remember the Browns having great fans when I was a kid.

Even as a fan of a team that hasn't won a playoff game in 20 years.. The Browns are having a tough run over the last 15 years

50 years. Half a damn century.

Omaha · 02-05-2015, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SNR

****gate thisgate stupidgate trendgate of using gategate to coingate a wordgate for a scandalgate even though it ****inggate doesn'tgate even soundgate like Watergategate.

Gate.

Uh oh. It looks like rantgate is now underway.

SeeingRed · 02-05-2015, 10:01 AM

Jordan Cameron is saying he wants out.......this team is a mess.

**The Franchise** · 03-30-2015, 10:02 AM

#Browns have been fined $250,000 or Text-gate and Ray Farmer has been suspended without pay for first four games of season.
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) March 30, 2015

Red Dawg · 03-30-2015, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Numbah One

Deflate a bunch of balls before a playoff game? OK, whatever.

Send a text? **** YOU.

No shit. You can also bend the rules to confuse the refs as long as your owner sucks off the Commish all day.

**Bowser** · 03-30-2015, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dicky McElephant

#Browns have been fined $250,000 or Text-gate and Ray Farmer has been suspended without pay for first four games of season.
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) March 30, 2015

That will teach them. Who do they think they are, anyway? The Patriots?

Mr. Laz · 03-30-2015, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcellus

I don't even care that I don't care.

Sounds like a really dumb rule though.

not really

I believe Farmer can call all the plays he wants as long as he using the proper line of communication. It's about the method of communication, not what he communicated.

The league has to limit technology or they will have teams creating these large communication networks to provide instant information about virtually everything for their teams.

Put spotters up all over the stadium with IM devices relaying every player/coach setup and move the opposing team makes.

Beef Supreme · 03-30-2015, 10:31 AM

Hell, they used to let Jerry Jones wander around on the sidelines acting like a coach.

Hootie · 03-30-2015, 10:40 AM

I'm pretty sure the owner of the team is allowed to stand on the sidelines and coach if he really wants to

Pasta Little Brioni · 03-30-2015, 11:20 AM

....yet nothing for the Patriots obvious cheating because the owner Bob knobs with the commish. This league blows.

**TrebMaxx** · 03-30-2015, 12:13 PM

Whoa, that Ray Farmer 4 game suspension is really going to bring the Browns down.

BucEyedPea · 03-30-2015, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

yea, but was he texting in plays he wanted to run or was he texting in plays he thought the other team was going to run?

Precisely! Just texting alone violates the integrity of the game? Come on.
What were the text's about and even if he thought he knew the plays that the opposite team was going to run, was it just his hunch from watching?

Fine seems steep without more information. Sounds like a lot of stupid rules.

BucEyedPea · 03-30-2015, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pasta Giant Meatball

....yet nothing for the Patriots obvious cheating because the owner Bob knobs with the commish. This league blows.

Speculation and assumption. Perhaps nothing was really there at all...and most info that came out as that scandal developed supports that. Kraft glared at the commish and even demanded an apology. Such nonsense.

02-04-2015, 11:44 AM
The Franchise Most Valuable Villain Join Date: Dec 2006 Casino cash: $3185047	Browns face possible suspension, fine and loss of draft pick Cleveland Browns and GM Ray Farmer facing possible suspension, fine, loss of draft pick for 'Textgate' http://www.cleveland.com/browns/inde...medium=twitter CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns and general manager Ray Farmer are facing possible sanctions from the NFL for "Textgate," including a multigame suspension for Farmer, and a fine and loss of draft pick for the Browns, league sources told Northeast Ohio Media Group. The investigation -- one of three "integrity of the game" probes currently underway in the NFL -- is expected to be wrapped up soon, as early this week or next week. NEOMG reported on Jan. 6 that a Browns "high-ranking personnel member texted from the press box to the sidelines about playcalls'' during a game, which was one of the reasons former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, now with the Falcons, felt that working for the Browns had become dysfunctional for him. Multiple league sources have told NEOMG that Farmer was the high-ranking personnel member who violated the NFL's electronic use policy by the impermissible texting. Those messages were then apparently relayed to the coaches. The NFL investigated the improper texts, and are prepared to announce sanctions within the next couple of weeks. A resolution could come as early as this week, but probably no later than three weeks. Farmer is facing a multigame suspension -- as many as three or four games -- and the Browns are facing the loss of a draft pick if the probe, conducted by in-house NFL executives, shows that Farmer acted improperly. Farmer, asked by NEOMG at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., on Jan. 21 if he texted from the press level during a game, said "I can't comment on that. The league is investigating.'' A Browns spokesman reiterated Wednesday that the club has done everything the league has asked and is awaiting results of the probe. The Browns have never denied that such texts occurred, and coach Mike Pettine revealed during a press conference on Jan. 22 that investigators had already come to Cleveland to question members of the organization. At the Greater Cleveland Sports Award ceremony later that night, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam stressed that the club was cooperating fully. "I know that Ray and Pett and Sashi Brown, our general counselor, are cooperating fully with the NFL, and if we did anything wrong I'm sure we'll correct it and make whatever amends,'' he said. "I know we've cooperated fully with the NFL." "Textgate'' was the first of three scandals that have erupted over the past month that impact the integrity of the game, and the NFL is taking all three very seriously. The second was "Deflategate,'' the controversy over the Patriots deflating footballs during their AFC Championship Game victory over the Colts. And the third was the Falcons pumping artificial crowd noise into the Georgia Dome over the past two seasons, which owner Arthur Blank admitted to on Tuesday. The NFL is likely to wrap up all three investigations within the next three weeks. "It's not really a fine line," Blank told The Associated Press. "I think what we've done in 2013 and 2014 was wrong. Anything that affects the competitive balance and fairness on the field, we're opposed to, as a league, as a club and as an owner. It's obviously embarrassing but beyond embarrassing it doesn't represent our culture and what we're about." Blank told the AP that he knew enough about the investigation to own up to the allegations. "We've gotten some information from the league but until we read the full report and until they publish their findings, we can't be totally clear. We've talked to a lot of people and we've cooperated and we'll be anxious to read the report." During his Super Bowl press conference last week, Commissioner Roger Goodell stressed the importance of protecting the game's integrity. "This is my job," Goodell said in response to a question about Deflate-gate. "This is my responsibility to protect the integrity of the game. I represent 32 teams. All of us want to make sure that the rules are being followed. And if we have any information where the potential is that those rules were violated, I have to pursue that. And I have to pursue that aggressively. "So this is my job. This is the job of the league office. It is what all 32 clubs expect and I believe our partners and fans expect. We will do it vigorously and it is important for it to be thorough and fair." The Browns' Textgate investigation comes at a difficult time for the club. Their first-round quarterback, Johnny Manziel, checked himself into a rehab facility last Wednesday for a possible dependence on alcohol; and their All-Pro receiver, Josh Gordon, was suspended for a minimum of a year.
Posts: 91,944

02-05-2015, 09:01 AM	#61
ChiliConCarnage TACO SALAD Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: yes Casino cash: $1878468	I remember the Browns having great fans when I was a kid. Even as a fan of a team that hasn't won a playoff game in 20 years.. The Browns are having a tough run over the last 15 years
Posts: 5,842

02-05-2015, 10:01 AM	#65
SeeingRed Veteran Join Date: May 2013 Casino cash: $10011193	Jordan Cameron is saying he wants out.......this team is a mess. __________________ "Pressure Busts Pipes"
Posts: 1,821

03-30-2015, 10:02 AM	#66
The Franchise Most Valuable Villain Join Date: Dec 2006 Casino cash: $3185047	#Browns have been fined $250,000 or Text-gate and Ray Farmer has been suspended without pay for first four games of season. — Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) March 30, 2015
Posts: 91,944

03-30-2015, 10:31 AM	#70
Beef Supreme MVP Join Date: Oct 2010 Casino cash: $10019560	Hell, they used to let Jerry Jones wander around on the sidelines acting like a coach.
Posts: 11,000

03-30-2015, 10:40 AM	#71
Hootie Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Casino cash: $10004900	I'm pretty sure the owner of the team is allowed to stand on the sidelines and coach if he really wants to
Posts: 56,356

03-30-2015, 11:20 AM	#72
Pasta Little Brioni Consuming CP souls Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: U.S.A. Casino cash: $4058880	....yet nothing for the Patriots obvious cheating because the owner Bob knobs with the commish. This league blows. __________________ **Official TFWdemB Trivia Commisioner**
Posts: 68,307

03-30-2015, 12:13 PM	#73
TrebMaxx Supporter Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Peoples Republic of CoMo Casino cash: $1557252	Whoa, that Ray Farmer 4 game suspension is really going to bring the Browns down. __________________
Posts: 4,321